Hairspray linked to common birth defect

24 Nov 2008

Women who are exposed to hairspray on a daily basis during pregnancy are twice as likely to have a son born with a genital birth defect, research suggests.

A study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, found a link between hairspray and one of the most common defects of the male genitalia - hypospadias.

The findings indicated that expectant mums exposed to hairspray in the workplace during their first trimester of pregnancy have two to-three times more risk of giving birth to a baby boy with the condition.

One of the report's authors, professor Paul Elliott from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Imperial College London, said: "Hypospadias is a condition that, if left untreated, can cause problems in later life. Although surgery to correct it is usually successful, any surgery will be traumatic for the child and his parents.

"It is encouraging that our study showed that taking folic acid supplements in pregnancy may reduce the risk of a child being born with the condition."

Previous studies also suggested a link between vegetarian diet and the male birth defect.

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